NEC’s Video Face Recognition Technology Ranks First in NIST Testing

NEC’s Video Face Recognition Technology

NEC’s face recognition technology took first place for
the fourth consecutive time following the 2009 Multiple Biometric Grand
Challenge (MBGC 2009), 2010-2011 Multiple Biometrics Evaluation (MBE
2010-2011), and 2013 Face Recognition Vendor Test (FRVT 2013).

Video
face recognition technology identifies the faces of moving subjects in
real-time as they walk naturally without stopping in front of a camera.
The benefits of high-speed video analysis enabled by this technology
include the prevention of potential incidents through detection of
suspicious individuals and recognition of individuals at the gateways of
critical facilities.

Using video images from standard cameras
for face recognition requires highly-advanced techniques when compared
to still images. This is because images are greatly influenced by
environmental conditions, such as camera location, image quality,
lighting and subject size, in addition to the behavior of a subject,
including walking speed, face direction and sight line.

To
achieve reliable face recognition of a video image, NEC developed
feature point extraction technology that enables enhanced face
recognition to a level where an individual can be identified with high
precision from within a group, even if their face is partially hidden,
or the image is taken from different angles. NEC’s face recognition
technology also uses deep learning technologies for face matching to
increase accuracy to a level where an individual can be identified by a
low resolution face image captured by a distant camera.

“It is a
great honor that our face recognition technology received a first place
evaluation for the fourth consecutive time from the NIST,” said Masakazu
Yamashina, Senior Vice President, NEC Corporation. “We will further
expand global business by offering innovative biometric solutions, such
as the video face recognition system, throughout a wide range of fields,
including security, transportation, finance and retail.”

Evaluation examples from the NIST FIVE testing

– Entry-exit management at an airport passenger gate
Tests
were conducted to recognize one individual at a time as they walk
through an area without stopping or acknowledging the camera. NEC’s face
recognition technology won first place with a matching accuracy of
99.2%. The error rate of 0.8% is less than one-fourth of the second
place error rate.

– Detection of suspicious individuals at an indoor stadium
Tests
were conducted with an individual situated far from the camera with
their face direction changing frequently. NEC’s face recognition
technology won first place with an error rate half that of the second
place error rate.

For nearly 30 years, NEC has been developing
face recognition technology by defining it as one of the key
technologies to help achieve a safer and more secure society. The
technology has now been implemented in more than 100 systems in 40
countries worldwide. NEC will continue to develop solutions that
leverage face recognition technology as part of its portfolio of AI
technologies “NEC the Wise”(3), and to deliver the solutions for a wide
range of fields, including social infrastructure and private sector
facilities.

(1) https://www.nist.gov/programs-projects/face-video-evaluation-five
(2)
Results shown from the Face In Video Evaluation (FIVE), the Multiple
Biometric Grand Challenge (MBGC), the Multiple Biometric Evaluation
(MBE) and the Face Recognition Vendor Test (FRVT) do not constitute
endorsement of any particular product by the U.S. Government.
(3) http://www.nec.com/en/global/rd/crl/ai/index.html

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